It’s no secret—your garage door works hard! In the U.S., the average garage door opens and closes about 1,500 times every year, and over half of garage door owners use them as the main entry point to their homes.
Automatic garage doors are a fantastic convenience and security asset when working correctly. When they’re not, though, it can be extremely inconvenient and, in some cases, downright dangerous. Read on to learn the top four garage door problems and how to spot them so that you can get them addressed as soon as possible.
Garage Door Won’t Open
You pull into your driveway, press the button on your garage door opener, and…nothing happens. Or, you try to open the door via the keypad entry and it doesn’t move. What’s going on?
If you’re lucky, this could be a simple battery issue. You can try replacing the opener or keypad batteries to see if that solves the problem. If it doesn’t though, you might need to do a little digging to assess if:
- The garage door motor is unplugged
- The circuit breaker is tripped
- The photo eye sensor is blocked
If you check all of these and the door still won’t open, it’s time to call a pro. You might need a garage door opener repair or replacement, or there may be an underlying issue with the door itself.
Slow Opening or Closing
If your garage door is sluggish when moving up or down, pay attention right away! Your door works via a very strong torsion spring. Over time, this spring can weaken and stretch out. This decrease in tension can cause the door to lag.
It’s also possible for this spring to break. If you hear a loud sound akin to a firecracker going off (or if your door is closed and won’t open) that probably means the spring has snapped. If this happens, you won’t be able to open your garage door again until the spring is replaced.
Never attempt to fix a torsion spring on your own. This is a job for the experts!
Uneven Garage Door Movement
Your garage door should move parallel to the ground. If one side is higher than the other, there’s likely a problem with the tracks.
The far sides of the door travel along tracks to open and close. If those tracks are obstructed, the door won’t be able to move well and the two sides can get out of sync.
If this happens, check the tracks for any obstructions. Even a small buildup of dirt or grime can cause big issues if left unattended. You can also check your owner’s manual to see if the manufacturer advises applying any kind of lubricant to keep the tracks moving smoothly.
Noisy Opening or Closing
When everything’s working as it should be, your garage door should make minimal noise. Don’t ignore it if you hear:
- Popping
- Squeaking
- Grinding
- Rattling
If you hear these or any unusual noises from your door unit:
- Do a visual check for any obvious issues or obstructions
- Tighten any hardware on the door
- Following the manufacturer’s advice, apply a lubricant to the tracks or rollers
If these steps don’t solve the issue, or if it looks like there’s a problem with the spring, it’s time to call a professional for garage door repairs.
For regular or emergency garage door repair in Heathsville or the greater Middlesex County area, call Easy Open Garage Doors, LLC. We’re here to assist with repairs and maintenance and we offer 24/7 emergency garage door service—”Because life is hard enough.”
